Pahrump data center ban passes unanimously as Nye looks to regulate development in other parts of the county.

Amid the climate of immense public pressure that has been building in the community, the Nye County Commission unanimously agreed this week to ban data centers in the Pahrump Valley.

It was a move hailed with enthusiasm by the many residents who have spent the last two months speaking out against the potential risks of this type of development, although an undoubted blow to developers eyeing the area and those hoping to reap some benefits for the community.

The data center ban decision came the night of Tuesday, August 18, following another lengthy Nye County Commission meeting that saw hundreds in attendance and, despite a two-minute time limit per person, over two hours of public comment on the subject. Three separate items regarding data centers were on the agenda and were combined into one discussion, including the ban, a possible special election to allow the voters to decide on a ban and an item to set a public hearing on a bill proposing regulations on data centers. There were varied opinions on each item but overall, the majority of residents voicing their thoughts made it clear that a full-out prohibition would be their preference.

“What I propose is, you all vote to ban data centers, outright, today,” Teresa Redl told the board Tuesday evening. “Everyone I know is absolutely frantic – we are all losing our minds. It’s been really rough on everybody here. You guys can end this today by voting to ban.”

“If you do ban, I doubt there will be an uprising of people who favor data centers, to the extent that you are seeing those of us who say, ‘No’,” Susie Hertz asserted.

As the board opened its discussion, commissioner Ian Bayne clarified that he would be amending his proposed ban so that it would only apply to the Pahrump Valley and Basin #162, leaving out all other parts of the county.

“We’re not in the take-a-risk business,” Bayne stated. ‘We’re in the preventing-risk business here.”

Commissioner Bruce Jabbour said he would appreciate having the ban limited to Pahrump, as other communities in the county may be interested in having data centers in their areas. Commissioner Debra Strickland then highlighted the Sarcobatus Solar Project in Sarcobatus Flats, located 20 miles or more north of Beatty, which has already been approved by the county. This project will utilize its own solar fields to power an off-grid data processing center, offering an example of how the right location and set-up can shift the situation, so long as regulations are in place.

“Somewhere we’ve got to make money, guys. So, let’s put some data centers somewhere. Come up with a place that will work, like it’s working in Sarcobatus Flats,” Strickland said.

She also emphasized that she believed taking the special election route would be the best path forward, remarking, “I still feel the people need to make that determination.”

However, Nye County Clerk Cori Friedhof reported that the cost of a special election on a data center ban for Pahrump would come to somewhere around $113,000 and this was a price Jabbour, for one, was not willing to bear, given the county’s current financial strain.

“It’s over $100,000 for the ballot question. And I am not in favor of spending any more of the taxpayers’ dollars unnecessarily,” Jabbour declared.

As the discussion drew to a close, Bayne made the motion to adopt Nye County Bill No. 2026-11, which amends Nye County Code Title 17 to prohibit data center development in the Pahrump Valley. Jabbour offered a second and the motion passed 5-0.

Commissioner John Koenig then made a motion to set a public hearing for Nye County Bill No. 2026-14, a bill proposing to amend Title 17 by establishing land use regulations, special use permitting requirements and development standards for data centers throughout the rest of the county, with a second from Strickland. That motioned passed 4-1, with Bayne the sole voice against. The public hearing will take place during a special meeting to be held Monday, Sept. 14 in the Nye County Commissioners’ Chambers.

The meeting can be attended in person at 2100 E. Walt Williams Drive in Pahrump or 101 Radar Road in Tonopah, as well as via teleconference.

To view the proposed data centers regulations bill, visit NyeCountyNV.gov and click on the “Meeting Center” link. The draft bill is included with item #22 on the commission’s Tuesday, August 18 agenda.

No motion was forthcoming on the proposal for a special election and that item ultimately died.

Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at rhebrock@pvtimes.com